Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-29
A CHILD OF THE SEA.
Happy Thoughts of a Bold Jack Tar Done Into Rhyme-An Epic of the Storm.Svept Coast.

 the wharf near me and seemed to share the general aspect of suspended animation-sails folded, spars hauled 'midships, matches down, apparently not sign of life about it-when To, even as l noted these things. suddenly there appeared four-legged diver sion on the deck of the little vessel and broke the serenity of the occasion. At the sound of @ hostile step forth issued from his kennelled retreat small dog; the faithful port-watch; implacable, born protestant as to his relation to the world, and with bark to every square inch of him. ther her. developments from the enemy Keeping close eyeson me the while he be- gan sidewise and partially retrograde move ment in which he was assisted by the reac- tionary energy of his bark, and which brought him with great accuracy to the cab in door, Here the hot challenge became an impatient summons directed to the bowels of the cabin. This novel method of order ing all hands on deck seemed to be under stood, for presently there came slowly up through the companionway the frowsiest of fur caps and underneath the cap was face largely made up of hurricane moustache. The next leading constituent was an eye that turned on me an inquiring glance and reveal ing the undeniable fact that it's weather lid was up. l took it to be shrewd eye and one that had investigated considerable weather of all sorts, both on land and sea.
 There was 8 hardness in his cheek
 A hardness in his eye
 Against the wind and the open sky.'f
 This was good description of "Peter Bell' and it will do for my tarry flower. l took to hina at once, as I do always to sail ors; Who can help playing hail fellow with an honest son of the sea with the traces Of that last wild gale lingering around the turns of his nautical phiz. Some unprotes- sional remarks regarding the weather and few other purely nautical themes introduced by me seemed to strike responsive chord somewhere and paving the way for an invita- ton down into the cabin. Once there 1 tar ried long while my tarry host smoked his cutty pipe and gave me his heart in true sailor fashion between the puffs. l heard the usual history of the wild oat crop (and | sometimes, owing to special facilities, it is a soberly big one, poor fellows) and listened with sympathetic credul1ty to various stock yarns worn sacred by use. Why should one disturb the sailors childlike faith in as to his veraoitya I could not, and continued gazing at this ancient mariner with truthful admiration equal to the occa- sion. Long I sat in the attitude of faith while he smoked on, turning the little cabin into curiHg-house. By and by it became evident that there was somewhat on his mind more momentous than the ordinary yarn. Something that yearned for utterance; but didn't know the way or was bashful. hoy cred about in a state of plastic sympathy, giving what vague help could He yearned harder. I applied A encouraging plaster or two, and at last he rose and going to place in the cabin floor, where there was loose strip, drew therefrom a roll of manuscript "belayed" with number of turns of tarred ''seizing" or twine This he handed to me with air of great but well controlled pride. nonchalantly explaining "that it was short pome which he writ one night while keepin' watch" I must say was unprepared for this announcement, but mus tered becoming surprise and awe. begged him to read it alcud to me, and with some urging he medestly consented. After course of hemming and having, with reassuring pulls at his pipe, he hoisted anchor and be- gan, while turned on my most poetic ear. The lines rolled out impressiyely attuned to the composite undulations of the aforesaid hurricane moustache. As the poet warmed to his subject he set all the sails of forecastle oratory from main course to sky scraper, punctuating in divers places with twist in the air of his pipe, finally sailing safely into port on the two last in the presence of genius and rejoiced. The thought struck me, why should not the world rejoice with me? told him it must be printed. He demurred, but at last yield ed, and when I bade him good bye bore away with me the manuscript in all it's glory  tionality. I will preface the poem with no critical remarks; it's three-decker and sails away from criticism at twelve knot gait. l must apologize to the reader for this long preamble but some account, however imper- feet, of the discovery of my tarry flower and the garden in which he grew seemed necessary as a sort of background.
 POEM
 COMPOSED ON THE NIGHT MARCH 10, 1887,
 kEEPIN' WATCH OFF MUDDIE RIVER,
 BY JACK T. RoBY.
 t was on the ssd of oktober at Jarsy city we did A lodid with Bones Irun Bound for fladelphi-a on Board the skuner mary & emma as you will un- waitin fur Orders at the Captin's Kermand. kum on Bord
 with orders E Way anku. and Beldsly put to sea
 ontii 1sI we Fetched Barney Cat Witch Proved our Overthrow.
 the Wind it whopped to Sutthard you will under !, we Had to Put to sea to Keep Clar of Land Ontil Nine O'clock that same Night we was in the then Under two Refed fo'sel we hove our scuner a Wishin' fur Day Light to see what we kud Do So Erly next mornin Just after Brake O Day May.
 twas just howrs arfter with Dark Diznnal ski the Wind commencit to Bio agin the sea run Noun fur sixe Thirti howrs ful to Mites a day
 afor did git fur Enuf south to Stand in delawar bay.
 we Then Went two hladelfy with everithing awl Rite
 and Sune We Got onlodid fur We dun it in the Mite And Then to Drydoc to hawl the skuner Out fur By Beein run loded shee Had hitchd sum Okum out.
 then sune We Got awl Rite agin S fur Grenwitch to Lode up with soft Kole bownd fur Madison Oh and vile thar Lodn Had riglar Sow East Gail
 it shiftid to Sow west an mayd Everithing cary | Short sale.
 its Menny long daze & mites cince then it enemost makes me shivver
 ! an now We are Laing at Ankur of the Muddie River
 | And as am kepin Watch this Tail I do Rite ! fur it's Bloin Hard & Dark & Dizmal is the Mite.
 Our ltl Skooner is Dandi Bilt of the best Comet ilxut Oke
 | and Stands No. 1. as Good as snny Afote Decides She is Lodid in Most Eligant Trim Since can Ride the See fare enny Duk that evar swan.
 Bee for do go Beelow He put Stopper on my Rhine
 | Josef swipes is captins Name, nan tai and sublime
 Luther Starker is our Stueard's name, as you vii all agree
 And Jack T. Roby is my that inkloods us 8.